Estudo numérico da influência da viscosidade no desempenho de uma bomba centrífuga submersa

Abstract

This work presents a numerical analysis on the influence of viscosity on the performance of a semi-axial electrical submersible pump (ESP) such as the ones used in offshore petroleum production. A single stage composed of an impeller with seven blades and a diffuser with seven vanes is considered. Flow simulations for water and other fluids with viscosity ranging from 60 to 1020 cP were performed with the aid of Computational Fluid Dynamics, and both design and off-design flow rates and impeller speeds were investigated. The numerical model was compared with experimental measurements of the static pressure difference on a given stage of a three-stage ESP system. Results showed good agreement between the numerical and the measured pressure difference values. As a main objective, the pump performance degradation relative to viscosity is analyzed for several conditions regarding design and off-design operation. The flow field pattern associated with the effect of viscosity is also analyzed. Studying the pump performance degradation cause by viscosity, especially for off-design operation like this work is also intended, is a current and ongoing demand in offshore petroleum production. In association with that, understanding the flow field pattern for those scenarios, which seems to be very particular for each pump, should help to contribute to the related literature in this field.